Top End Rattle

[u000533]

Hi, been sat here for an hour watching dephaser videos and can't find anything that sounds like the noise I have.

[video=youtube_share;i5Xl8i6aaJc]http://youtu.be/i5Xl8i6aaJc[/video]

I'm referring to the deep rattle noise and would say its definitely coming from middle to right of the cam cover.

I spent ages looking for a nice black gold 182 (belts, dephaser, water pump etc 10k ago by renatec - bristol, got history, cliosport member previous owner) and so far (6 months) its been a nightmare, discovered jacking points are flat as a pancake, heater resistor went, heater flap gears went and whilst doing the oil change also noticed the coolant level is dropping, thankfully not into the engine and there's evidence of some sort of front end dismantlement as cables and wires are routed incorrectly in places you wouldn't need to touch. Looks great from the outside though - LOL!

This noise also started to get worse after the 1st oil change I did, used the correct spec oil, paranoid about oil as my previous car was a Boxster S. Car does drive fine.

Just done my 2nd oil change which made no difference to the noise.

I'm looking for a solution so that I can sell the car as it isn't for me, going back to rear wheel drive.

Any help appreciated

regards

Mike.

 

[not normal dan]

Sounds like valve gear problem, certainly doesn't sound like a dephaser fault.

If it is valve gear it'll no doubt require a top end rebuilt and cams, belts, rocker cover will all need removing so fairly labour intensive.

 

[u000533]

Hi, I'm guessing to do further investigation its going to be belts, pulleys off etc due to the cam cover design?

I've got that sinking feeling that this car's going to be a money pit.

 

[klm182]

i would find a specialist.. depends where you are.. there are some good ones on here.. see what they say. think theres a dan from somerset, he seems to know his stuff and a fred in Birmingham ... pm them ..

 

[u000533]

Hi, I'm updating my post with findings in case it helps someone else.

Whilst listening to the noise I realised that it wasn't in sync with the engine revs, so concluded it had to be something geared or driven to be making a noise at a different rpm. A bit of investigation with a workshop stethoscope (read long screw driver) revealed the noise to be coming from somewhere near the alternator.

The block appears to resonate noise up through the manifold making it tricky to trace noises.

Removing the aux belt I discovered -

• belt tensioner seized
• bottom idler pully bearings shot
• alternator loose, bottom bolt stripped

On reassembly with new belt, idler pulley and tensioner its virtually silent.

Whilst fighting with the tensioner I also decided, in my opinion, that its design is flawed as its fitted with set bolts which clamp each end of the tensioner spring in place, not allowing them to pivot. I sourced some 10mm shoulder bolts on ebay and drilled the ends of the new tensioner spring to match, with a 1mm washer under the head they work perfectly.



regards

Mike.